"They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Hebrews 11:37b-38

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Abraham - the Archtype of a Wandering Pilgrim

As you know by now, I have titled my weblog Wandering Pilgrim's Progress for a reason. This present plane of existence - as Rich Mullins so aptly called "stuff of Earth" - is only but a vapor, and then it is gone. Eternity is a very very very long time, and that's what the Believer has to look forward to. Yet he (or she) is still here on this earth, and what we do on Earth is of importance in how one lives life in the sight of God and man, and how one may cooperate with the Holy Spirit in producing Fruit that will last for all Eternity regarding those rescued from sin and perdicion - perdition or Hell. Important stuff of Earth, indeed. How to live on this Earth is where life gets interesting. Listening to his voice, seeking the Master in the morning, praying without ceasing, and listening to His response is what we are to do. He builds His body and supplies for it in various ways. Not all believers are to do the exact same thing in the exact same place. Sin embargo - nevertheless - we are to do His leading. Listening and following is key. I am reminded of that Old Testament - and New Testament - character, Abraham once again at this point in the Journey. Here's some verses from Hebrews worthy of reflection and meditation.

* * *

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (11:8)

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. (11:9)

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (11:10)

Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (11:11)

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. (11:12)

These all died in faith, not having receive the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (11:13)

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. (11:14)

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. (11:15)

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one; wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. (11:16)

*** *** ***

Abraham sought a better country - a heavenly one. In the process, he had to leave Ur of the Chaldeans to go to a better country here on Earth. . . one where he could see the promises from a distance. I too seek, along with my Christiana - Carolyn Anne - that better country. Being on that geographical journey away from all we have ever known and experienced sharpens the soul's connections to the things of Heaven and Eternity. Depending on God for everything, for we know not where we go, even when we try to make plans. We are learning to ask the Lord to direct our steps, to where He wants us to go and in what manner.

I'll close for now with one great story to illustrate. Yesterday we were looking for a Dentista - a Dentist - for Carolyn Anne regarding some teeth cleaning. She was quoted $378 back home for this service, and we were quoted just $25 for the same thing here in Cuenca. !!! At first we waited for a half hour or so for the dentist to arrive. By 10:00 AM, he had not, so we walked to a location where we had seen a dentist office at the Spanish speaking church we were at last Sunday. That location had no Dentista sign on it anymore, and the office was closed. So we made it back to our first dental office downtown that we saw. He was open, and glad to see us! No appointment necessary for a consultation, either. . . and with my translating abilities - thank you, God for them - we communicated the need for deep cleaning of the teeth plus the need for a prescription for antibiotics due to her knee replacement surgery. The dentist, Sr. Oswaldo Maldonado, engaged us in some more conversation, and it turned out he has a brother in Thousand Oaks, California that he would love to see more, but cannot due to financial and work demands. He was impressed with my Spanish also, and thought I had lived in Cuenca for some time. Not the case, of course.

We couldn't have done any of this without God guiding us each moment to just the right person and place for each concern we may have. Yea, God! Helping us along the Pilgrim way. Selah.